More one-stop health centres

18th October 2006

The NHS is on target to 125 one-stop health centres this year, according to health minister Lord Warner.

Speaking at a conference on the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme, he called for the creation of more health centres combining GP services, specialist nurses, social workers, pharmacists and other health and social care providers. This would ensure patients would no longer have to travel to and from different services for their care, he told delegates.

He said an additional £750 million will be available over the next five years to further develop community hospitals.